Next steps

Peter, 23, is a Supporting People assessment officer at
a council in Scotland.

What is your job?

I work with a range of clients who receive a housing support
service or who wish to apply for support.

What are your responsibilities?
I visit clients at home to assess their support needs or
provide a financial assessment and review these. I need good
interpersonal skills to succeed in this job. I also need to be
highly organised and have good planning skills.

What is your salary?
I earn £12,000 a year.

What are your career aspirations?
I would like to use the assessment skills I have gained
in a social work setting.

Here are three options to develop your career:
1)  You could be a sensory support worker. You would
supplement the work of a sensory services team which assesses
people in their own homes and arrange equipment, training and
rehabilitation to meet their eligible needs. You will carry out
assessments of people in the community with sensory loss and
arrange services to meet their eligible needs. The salary will be
£21,000.
2)  How about becoming an occupational therapist? You will work in
partnership with a health team to assess the needs of vulnerable
adults. You will provide innovative packages of care which support
them in the community and on return from hospital. You will assess
needs and design care packages that enable individuals to maximise
their independence and remain living in their own home as long as
possible. You will need to have an interest in working with adults.
Your salary would be £26,000.
3)  You could contemplate becoming a care manager. You would manage
care packages within nursing and
residential homes. You would provide an assessment, care management
and social work service to older people. You would need five years’
experience and a Criminal Records Bureau check would also be
required. The salary would be £30,000.